Cold table with open top

ABSTRACT

The cold table in accordance with the present invention comprises a table top assembly, a first folding leg assembly at one end of the table and a second folding leg assembly at the opposite end of the table. Each folding leg assembly comprises a pair of elongated legs connected together by a cross bar, and each leg assembly being hingedly connected to the table for pivoting between a folded position wherein the legs are substantially parallel to the underside of the table and adjacent thereto and an extended position wherein the legs extend downwardly from the underside of the table. Each foldable leg assembly has a keeper mechanism to hold the legs in their extended position when pivoted to that position. The table top assembly has integrally joined peripheral side walls and bottom wall, making it leakproof. The bottom wall is sloped from the peripheral edges toward a drain aperture in the center of the bottom wall whereby as ice water in the cavity of the table top assembly melts, it runs down to the sloping bottom wall and the drain aperture. A drain conduit is connected to the drain aperture to carry the melting ice water away to a drain collector. The upwardly facing top wall of the table top assembly and of the cavity enables placing plates of food on top of the ice in the cavity to keep the food cold while being available for serving from the open top cold table. Ice can be readily added to the cavity to keep it full as the ice therein continues to melt and be drained away.

PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending prior application Ser. No. 10/718,027 filed Nov. 21, 2003 by the same inventor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of cold tables for keeping food items cold while put out for serving.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior art known to the inventor regarding the present invention include the following United States Patents identified by patent number, copies of which are readily available in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and other locations throughout the United States to the general public and others having an interest in examination thereof:

-   -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,111     -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,346     -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,857     -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,741     -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,580     -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,817     -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,594     -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,758     -   U.S. Pat. No. 2,522,322     -   U.S. Pat. No. 1,800,863

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cold table in accordance with the present invention comprises a table top assembly, a first folding leg assembly at one end of the table and a second folding leg assembly at the opposite end of the table. Each folding leg assembly comprises a pair of elongated legs connected together by a cross bar, and each leg assembly being hingedly connected to the table for pivoting between a folded position wherein the legs are substantially parallel to the underside of the table and adjacent thereto and an extended position wherein the legs extend downwardly from the underside of the table. Each foldable leg assembly has a keeper mechanism described in greater detail herein below to hold the legs in their extended position when pivoted to that position. The table top assembly has integrally joined peripheral side walls and bottom wall, making it leakproof. The bottom wall is sloped from the peripheral edges toward a drain aperture in the center of the bottom wall whereby as ice water in the cavity of the table top assembly melts it runs down to the sloping bottom wall and the drain aperture. A drain conduit is connected to the drain aperture to carry the melting ice water away to a drain collector. The upwardly facing open wall of the table top assembly and of the cavity enables placing plates of food on top of the ice in the cavity to keep the food cold while being available for serving from the open top cold table. Ice can be readily added to the cavity to keep it full as the ice therein continues to melt and be drained away.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of one side of a cold table in accordance with this invention shown in cross-section to illustrate the sloping bottom wall that slopes from the outer edges toward a drain aperture in the center and the arcuate peripheral joining portion that integrally joins the peripheral side wall to the sloping bottom wall.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the opposite side of the cold table shown in FIG. 1, this view in FIG. 2 also shown partly in cross section.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of one end of a cold table in accordance with this invention shown in cross section to better illustrate the sloping bottom wall and arcuate peripheral joining portion that integrally joins the peripheral side wall to the sloping bottom wall.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the underside of the cold table in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a protective cover for a cold table in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a cold table in accordance with this invention having a flat table top insert received in the cavity of the cold table.

FIG. 7 is a section view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6 with the lower portion of the table top cut away. the section view showing the forwardly facing end wall of the flat table top insert seen in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the drain plug or closure member that is receivable in the drain aperture of the cold table.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the drain plug or closure member shown in FIG. 8 and of the cap for the drain plug shown in position for screwing on to the threaded projection depending from the drain plug.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A cold table in accordance with this invention comprises a table top assembly 2 having an open top wall 4, a first side wall 6 extending downwardly from said open top wall 4, a second side wall 8 extending downwardly from said open top wall 4, said second side wall 8 being spaced apart from and substantially parallel to said first side wall 6, a first end wall 10 extending downwardly from said open top wall 4 and extending laterally between said first side wall 6 and said second side wall 8 at one end thereof, and a second end wall 12 extending downwardly from said open top wall 4 and extending laterally between said first side wall 6 and said second side wall 8 at the opposite end thereof.

Each opposite end of the first and second side walls is integrally joined to a respective facing end of a respective one of the end walls 10 and 12 to provide an integrally formed leakproof peripheral side wall 14 and an integrally formed bottom peripheral edge 16. The integrally formed leakproof peripheral side wall 14 prevents liquid from dripping or leaking therethrough.

The table top assembly 2 also includes a bottom wall 18 that has an integrally joined peripheral edge 20 having the same configuration and dimension as the bottom peripheral edge 16 of the integrally joined leakproof peripheral side wall 14. The peripheral edge 20 of the bottom wall 18 is integrally joined to the bottom peripheral edge 16 of the peripheral side wall 14 to provide an integral connecting peripheral edge 22 between the peripheral side wall 14 and the bottom wall 18 that extends around the entire periphery of the table top assembly 2. The bottom wall 18 slopes downwardly from around its peripheral edge 20 to terminate downwardly and inwardly at its lowest point 24 in a drain outlet 26. The sloping bottom wall 18 is otherwise imperforate. A drain conduit 28 may be connected to the drain outlet 24 to drain fluid such as melted ice water from the cavity 30 of the table top assembly 2 formed by the integral leak proof peripheral side wall 14 and otherwise leak proof imperforate bottom wall 18.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the integral connecting peripheral edge 22 has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration with a concave surface 32 facing inwardly toward the cavity 30 of the table top assembly 2. Such construction facilitates the flow of melted ice water downwardly from along the peripheral side wall 14 to the sloping bottom wall 18 and on toward the drain outlet 24. Such construction prevents melted ice water and any debris therein from catching along a sharp angle of the connecting peripheral edge of prior art table top assemblies which do not have a connecting peripheral edge between the bottom and side walls that has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration with its concave surface facing inwardly of the cavity 30.

The cold table in accordance with this invention includes supporting legs 34, including a first folding leg assembly 36 at one end 38 of the cold table and a second folding leg assembly 40 at the opposite end of the cold table. The upper end 42 of each folding leg assembly is hingedly connected to respective hinge assemblies 44 provided on the underside 46 of the table top assembly 2, whereby the folding leg assemblies can be pivoted between a table supporting position wherein the legs 34 extend downwardly from the table top assembly 2 and a table storing position wherein the legs 34 extend substantially parallel to the underside 46 of the table top assembly and substantially adjacent thereto.

Foldable two part keeper members 48, having one elongated arm 50 hingedly connected to a second elongated arm 52, are provided for each of the legs 34 to hold them in the table supporting position when pivoted thereto. One end 54 of elongated arm 50 of each keeper member 48 is connected to the underside 46 of the table top assembly, extending therefrom at a diagonal to a mid-portion 56 of each respective leg 34 to which the end 58 of the elongated arm 52 is connected. A slidable locking sleeve 64 is provided for each keeper member 48, slidable from an unlocked position on elongated arm 50 to a locking position in which a portion of the elongated arm 52 from its end 58 inward is received into the facing end of the slidable locking sleeve 64 thereby preventing the keeper members 48 and folding leg assemblies 36 and 40 from being folded from their supporting position to their folded position while the locking sleeve 64 is in its said locking position. To move the folding leg assemblies to their supporting position, the locking sleeve 64 is slidably moved back on the elongated arm 50 until the end 58 of the elongated arm 52 clears the locking sleeve 64, whereupon the arms 50 and 52 of the keeper members 48 can be pivoted to allow the respective foldable leg assemblies 38 and 40 to be pivoted from their supporting position to their folded position.

To use the cold table in accordance with this invention, the folding leg assemblies 36 and 40 are pivoted from their folded position to their supporting position. The keeper members 48 pivot to their diagonal position as the leg assemblies pivot from their folded position to their supporting position. The locking sleeves 64 are then slid into their locking position on the arms 50 and 52 of the keeper members 64. The table top assembly 2 and its open top wall 4 then faces upwardly and ice cubes may then be placed in the cavity 30. A drain conduit 28 is then connected to the drain outlet 24 to drain melted ice water from the cold table to a drain water collector. Plates of food may then be placed on top of the ice in the cavity 30. As the ice melts and is drained away, additional ice may be placed in the cavity 30 to keep the cold table in accordance with this invention constantly in use to cool food for an extended period of time.

A closure member or plug 66 is provided to open and close the drain outlet 24, comprising a large diameter cylindrical body 68 having screw threads 70 on its outer cylindrical wall 72 for threaded reception in the screw threads 74 around the inner cylindrical wall 76 of the drain outlet 24. A smaller diameter cylindrical projection 78 having external screw threads 80 on its outer cylindrical wall extends downwardly from the annular hand grip disk 82 of the closure member 66. A small diameter hole 84 extends through the center of the smaller diameter cylindrical projection 78 in communication with the larger diameter cavity bounded by the cylindrical wall 72 of the cylindrical body 68 to provide a through passageway for drain water to drain from the cavity of the cold table. The smaller diameter cylindrical projection 78 has a diameter and threads corresponding to the diameter and threads of the connecting member of a garden hose which may be connected thereto to carry drain water away from the table and into a drain receptacle. A cap 79 is provided having a recess with internal threads 81 corresponding to the external threads 80 of the cylindrical projection 78 for threaded reception thereof in the recess of the cap 79.

The underside 86 of the table includes a recess 88 in which the foldable legs may be received. The side walls 6 and 8 and end walls 10 and 12 of a second table to be stacked onto the first may be received on the peripheral edge 90 of the underside 86 of the first table to stack one table on top of another for storage when not in use and when the legs have been folded for reception in the recess 88.

A protective cover assembly 92, sometimes referred to as a sneeze guard, is provided for placing over the table to protect from unintended matter falling on to the food in the cold table. The protective cover assembly 92 includes an elongated cover 94 that spans the width of the table, having a first roof portion 96 that slants downwardly toward one side of the table from a central portion 98 and a second roof portion 100 that slants downwardly toward the opposite side of the table from the central portion 98.

The protective cover assembly 92 is supported on the table by a pair of supporting leg members 102 and 104, each of which have an upwardly extending end wall 106 and a laterally extending base member 108. The base members 108 are in the form of channel members, each having a top wall to which the end wall 106 of each leg member is respectively connected, and a pair of downwardly extending spaced apart side walls 110 and 112 defining a receptive channel 114 therebetween. One of the end walls 10 of the table is receivable in one of the channels 114 of one of the supporting leg members and the other end wall 12 of the table is receivable in the other of the supporting leg members to thereby mount the protective cover assembly 92 in position over the table.

A table top insert 116 is provided to insert into the cavity 30 of the table for the purpose of making a raised flat surface 118 for a portion of the table while ice cubes and food are in the other lower portion of the table. The table top insert 116 provides the raised flat surface 118 for persons to temporarily place items while working at the cold table or while receiving food items therefrom. The table top insert 116 includes a pair of spaced apart side walls 120 and 122 having an outwardly facing contour that corresponds with the inwardly facing contour of the side walls of the table, and end walls 124 having an outwardly facing contour that corresponds with the inwardly facing contour of the end walls of the table so the table top insert 116 may be pushed flush up against the end wall 124 at one end of the table. The end wall 124 of the table top insert 116 includes a hand grip recess portion 126 to enable grasping the insert for removal from the table. 

1. A cold table for keeping food items cold while put out for serving, comprising a table top assembly and a support leg assembly to support said table top assembly at a preselected position above a surface on which said support leg assembly is placed, wherein said table top assembly includes a cavity for reception of a cold substance therein.
 2. A cold table as set forth in claim 1, wherein said table top assembly includes an integrally joined peripheral side wall extending therearound.
 3. A cold table as set forth in claim 1, wherein said table top assembly includes an integrally joined peripheral side wall having a lower peripheral wall portion extending therearound, a bottom wall having an upper peripheral wall portion extending therearound and integrally joined to said lower peripheral wall portion of said integrally joined peripheral side wall along a peripheral connecting wall portion extending around said table top assembly between said peripheral side wall and said bottom wall.
 4. A cold table as set forth in claim 3, wherein said bottom wall includes a drain outlet and an imperforate wall extending outwardly from said drain outlet.
 5. A cold table as set forth in claim 4, wherein said bottom wall slopes downwardly toward said drain outlet.
 6. A cold table as set forth in claim 4, wherein said peripheral connecting wall portion between said peripheral side wall and said bottom wall has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration with a concave surface facing inwardly of said cavity.
 7. A cold table as set forth in claim 6, wherein said peripheral connecting wall portion between said peripheral side wall and said bottom wall has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration with a concave surface facing inwardly of said cavity, said peripheral side wall includes an upwardly extending surface facing inwardly of said cavity, said bottom wall includes a sloping surface facing inwardly of said cavity, said upwardly extending and inwardly facing surface of said peripheral side wall being integrally joined to said concave surface of said peripheral connecting wall portion along one side thereof, said sloping and inwardly facing surface of said bottom wall being integrally joined to said concave surface of said peripheral connecting wall portion along the opposite side thereof.
 8. A cold table as set forth in claim 1, wherein said table top assembly includes an integrally joined peripheral side wall extending therearound, a bottom wall integrally connected therearound to said peripheral side wall, a first end of said cold table, a second opposite end of said cold table, wherein said support leg assembly includes a first folding leg assembly at said first end of said cold table and a second folding leg assembly at said second opposite end of said cold table.
 9. A cold table as set forth in claim 8, including a first hinge assembly connected to said first end of said cold table, said first folding leg assembly being hingedly connected to said first hinge assembly for pivotal movement between a folded position and an extended position.
 10. A cold table as set forth in claim 9, including a second hinge assembly connected to said second end of said cold table, said second folding leg assembly being hingedly connected to said second hinge assembly for pivotal movement between a folded position and an extended position.
 11. A cold table as set forth in claim 10, including a keeper member for keeping a respective one of said folding leg assemblies in said extended position when pivoted thereto, said keeper member having a first elongated arm hinged at one end to one end of a second elongated arm, said first elongated arm having a table connecting hinge member at its opposite end for connection to said cold table, said second elongated arm having a hinged end hingedly connected to said one end of said first elongated arm, said second elongated arm having a leg connecting hinge member for connection to a folding leg assembly at the opposite end of said second elongated arm, said keeper member having a slidable locking sleeve member slidable on said first and second elongated arms of said keeper member between a locked position wherein a portion of both of said elongated arms are received in said locking sleeve member and an unlocked position wherein one of said elongated arms is not received in said locking sleeve member.
 12. A cold table as set forth in claim 11, having a plurality of said keeper members including a first one of said keeper members for operative connection to said first folding leg assembly and a second one of said keeper members for operative connection to said second folding leg assembly.
 13. A cold table as set forth in claim 8, wherein said cold table includes an underside, a recess in said underside to receive said first and second folding leg assemblies when folded.
 14. A cold table as set forth in claim 13, wherein said underside of said cold table includes a peripheral supporting edge extending therearound outwardly from said recess for receipt on said peripheral supporting edge the peripheral side and end walls extending outwardly from the upper side of a corresponding cold table for stacking one of said tables on the next table below for storage.
 15. A cold table as set forth in claim 4, including a drain plug assembly for reception in said drain outlet, wherein said drain outlet includes an inwardly facing cylindrical wall having screw threads thereon, said drain plug assembly includes an outwardly facing cylindrical side wall having screw threads thereon for engagement with and threaded reception with said screw threads on said inwardly facing cylindrical wall of said drain outlet, said drain plug assembly including a large diameter cylindrical cavity bounded by said cylindrical side wall.
 16. A cold table as set forth in claim 15, wherein said drain plug assembly includes an annular hand grasp disk extending therearound below said cylindrical side wall, a smaller diameter cylindrical projection extending below said annular hand grasp disk having a through passageway therethrough in communication with said large diameter cylindrical cavity to drain water from said cavity of said cold table, said smaller diameter cylindrical projection having screw threads thereon, and a cap for closing said through passageway of said smaller diameter cylindrical projection, said cap having an internally threaded cylindrical recess to engage said threads of said smaller diameter cylindrical projection and threadedly receive it in said cylindrical recess.
 17. A cold table as set forth in claim 16, wherein said diameter and screw threads of said smaller diameter cylindrical projection correspond to those of a garden hose for connection of said garden hose to said smaller diameter cylindrical projection.
 18. A cold table as set forth in claim 2, including a protective cover assembly having an elongated roof portion and a pair of supporting leg assemblies to support said roof portion at a spaced apart position above said table.
 19. A cold table as set forth in claim 18, wherein said supporting leg assemblies each include an upwardly extending supporting member and a base member to which each respective upwardly extending supporting member is connected, each of said base members including a channel member having a channel bordered by spaced apart side walls, said channel having a dimension wide enough to receive facing portions of said peripheral wall of said cold table therein to thereupon mount said protective cover assembly on said table.
 20. A cold table as set forth in claim 18 wherein said roof portion of said protective cover assembly has a first roof portion which slants downwardly from a central portion toward one side edge of said table and a second roof portion which slants downwardly from said central portion toward the opposite side edge of said table.
 21. A cold table as set forth in claim 1, including a flat table top insert for reception in a portion of said cavity of said table, said table top insert having a flat top wall and a peripheral side wall having an outwardly facing contour corresponding to the inwardly facing contour of said peripheral side wall of said cold table, said table top insert having a longitudinal dimension less than that of said cavity of said table whereby ice cubes and food items thereon may be in one part of the cavity of said table and the flat table top insert provides a flat table top working surface in another part of said cavity. 